Transcript File

SUN SAFETY
Notes taken from Project Safety Teacher’s Guide,
2001
The Skin
• Made up of dermis and epidermis
Dermis: deepest layer of skin, contains
blood and lymphatic vessels
• Epidermis: outer later of skin, made up of
basal cells (at the base of this layer),
squamous cells (flat cells) and melanocytes
(produce melanin which produces a
pigment/tan)
•
• You shed your skin cells, the entire outer
layer of skin (epidermis) is replaced every
15-30 days.
•
Skin
Cancer
3 kinds of skin cancer
•
Basal cell carcinoma: most common type, starts in basal
cells, slow growing, seldom spreads, do not leave
untreated, treated by cutting the cancer out of the body,
or freezing and scrapping off body.
•
Squamous cell carcinoma: second most common type,
starts in squamous cells, starts as a nodule or red patch,
may metastasize if untreated, treated by cutting the
cancer out of the body, or freezing and scrapping off
body.
•
Melanoma: most deadly type of skin cancer, starts in
melanocytes, blistering sunburns before the age of 18
increase chances of getting melanoma, at greater risk for
getting melanomas in future, even after treated. Treated
by surgery to cut out of body, early detection is critical.
Mostly likely to show up on soles of feet, hands, under
fingernails and toenails, in mouth.
Increased Incidence
•
1 in 5 people in the US will develop skin cancer in their
lifetime, 1 in 3 people who live in the sunbelt.
•
Sunbelt: states that lie below 37°N latitude, 16 states
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Australia: 2 out of 3 people develop melanoma
•
Most cases are in north Australia (closer to equator)
•
Hole in ozone layer above Australia, UV rays are not
screened out as well.
•
Not too many cases in Asian countries, even though
they are near the equator, because pale/fair skin is
considered a criterion for beauty.
•
Increase in cases in the NW: many outdoor activities,
high altitude, cloudy so people don’t wear sunscreen.
Tans, UV rays & Tanning Beds
•
What is a tan: melanocytes react to sun exposure by
releasing melanin (pigment) because melanin absorbs
UV rays. A tan is a sign of skin damage.
•
UVC rays cannot reach earth
•
UVB rays, less reach earth, they cause blistering sunburns,
impair immune system
•
UVA rays cause premature aging of skin, eye damage
and impair immune system. Penetrate skin more deeply
than UVB, damage cells in epidermis and dermis
•
Tanning beds use UVA rays since they go deeper into the
skin. Long term tanning bed users are 8 times more likely
to get melanoma.
•
Myths about tanning
“Tanning indoors is safer than tanning in the sun.”
•
•
Indoor tanning and tanning outside are both dangerous. Although tanning
beds operate on a timer, the exposure to ultraviolet (UV) rays can vary
based on the age and type of light bulbs. You can still get a burn from
tanning indoors, and even a tan indicates damage to your skin. Tanning
beds cause about 1,800 injuries requiring visits to the emergency room every
year.
“I can use a tanning bed to get a base tan, which will protect me from
getting a sunburn.”
•
A tan is a response to injury: skin cells respond to damage from UV rays by
producing more pigment.
•
Banning Tanning
•
California, Illinois, Nevada, Oregon, Texas, and Vermont have banned
the use of tanning beds by minors.
•
Brazil and one state in Australia (New South Wales) have banned the use
of tanning beds.
•
The United Kingdom, Germany, Scotland, France, several Australian
states, and several Canadian provinces have banned indoor tanning for
people younger than age 18.
Risk Factors
•
The main risk factor for developing cancer is exposure to UV radiation
•
Avoidable risk factors
•
•
•
Sun exposure, especially before the age of 18
Unavoidable risk factors
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Family history
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Geographic location
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Tendency to freckle or burn
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Hair and skin type
Skin Types
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Type 1 – always burns, never tans, red or blonde hair, freckles
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Type II – skin burns easily, tans little. Fair skinned.
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Type III-Skin burns occasionally, gradually tans.
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Type IV – minimal burning, always tans. Light to medium skin pigmentation.
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Type V – seldom burns, always tans. Medium to heavy pigmentation.
•
Type VI – seldom burns, tans darkly. Heavy pigmentation.
ABCDEs of Melanoma
•
Melanoma lesions often originate from existing moles. Follow
the patter of ABCDEs when looking at the characteristics of
moles.
•
Asymmetry – if the lesions were folded in half, the side would
•
Border irregularity – these lesions have jagged, scalloped,
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Color variation – 2 or more different colors
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Diameter – any sudden or continuing growth in size of mole,
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Evolution – has this mole changed over time
not match.
notched or blurred edges, rather than a smooth continuous
line.
concern for lesions with a diameter of 6mm or larger (size of a
pencil eraser)
Sun Exposure
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Avoid sun exposure between 10am-4pm, that is when the UV rays are more
direct.
•
Wear sunscreen and protective clothing when outside
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Try to find shade when outside
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You can get a sun burn on a cloudy day
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Wear sunglasses with lenses that filter out UVA and UVB rays
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Some medications make you more sensitive to the sun
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Look out for reflective surfaces as they can reflect UV radiation back to you:
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Concrete 10-15%
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Water – 100%
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Asphalt – 7-8%
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Grass 3-5%
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Sand 15-30%
•
Snow 85%
Sun Protection Factor
•
Apply sunscreen 20 minutes before you go in the sun, SPF
15+
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Reapply after swimming and sweating, or toweling off
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SPF is the amount of time the sunscreen will protect you, use
the equation: time it takes for your skin to turn red in the sun
X the SPF number = minutes of protection.
•
•
Example 5 (min) X 15 (SPF) = 75 (minutes of protection)
Wear clothes that protect you, and always wear a hat
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Cotton shirt – SPF 7
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Cotton/polyester shirt – SPF 15
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Denim jeans – SPF 95-100
•
Polyester/lycra surf shirt – SPF 35